SF 637

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 01/31/2019 02:38pm

A bill for an act
relating to local government; modifying the Metropolitan Council; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 473.123, subdivisions 2a, 3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 473.123, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:

Subd. 2a.

Terms.

Following each apportionment of council districts, as provided under
subdivision 3a, council members must be appointed from newly drawn districts as provided
in subdivision 3a. Each council member, other than the chair, must reside in the council
district represented. Each council district must be represented by one member of the council.
deleted text begin The terms of members end with the term of the governor, except that all terms expire on
the effective date of the next apportionment. deleted text end A member serves at the pleasure of the governor. new text begin
The terms are staggered as follows: members representing an odd-numbered district have
terms ending the first Monday in January of 2023 and members representing an
even-numbered district have terms ending the first Monday in January of 2025. Thereafter,
the term of each member is four years, with terms ending the first Monday in January, except
that all terms expire on the effective date of the next apportionment. A member's position
on the Metropolitan Council becomes vacant if the member ceases to be a local elected
official or as provided in chapter 351, and any vacancy must be filled as soon as practicable
for the unexpired term in the same manner as the initial appointment. new text end A member shall
continue to serve the member's district until a successor is appointed and qualified; except
that, following each apportionment, the member shall continue to serve at large until the
governor appoints 16 council members, one from each of the newly drawn council districts
as provided under subdivision 3a, to serve terms as provided under this section. The
appointment to the council must be made by the first Monday in March of the year in which
the term ends.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 473.123, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Membership; appointment; qualifications.

(a) Sixteen members must be
appointed by the governor from districts defined by this section. Each council member must
reside in the council district represented. Each council district must be represented by one
member of the council.

(b) In addition to the notice required by section 15.0597, subdivision 4, notice of
vacancies and expiration of terms must be published in newspapers of general circulation
in the metropolitan area and the appropriate districts new text begin , and notice of vacancies must be
provided by the Metropolitan Council to all local governments in all of the Metropolitan
Council districts new text end . The governing bodies of the statutory and home rule charter cities, counties,
and towns having territory in the district for which a member is to be appointed must be
notified in writing. The notices must describe the appointments process and invite
participation and recommendations on the appointment.

(c) The governor shall create a nominating committee, composed of new text begin 21 members: new text end seven
deleted text begin metropolitan deleted text end new text begin county new text end citizens appointed by the deleted text begin governor, to nominate persons for appointment
to the council from districts. Three of the committee members must be local elected officials deleted text end new text begin
county board, and 14 metropolitan city citizens appointed by the city council new text end . Following
the submission of applications as provided under section 15.0597, subdivision 5, the
nominating committee shall conduct public meetings, after appropriate notice, to accept
statements from or on behalf of persons who have applied or been nominated for appointment
and to allow consultation with and secure the advice of the public and local elected officials.
The committee shall hold the meeting on each appointment in the district or in a reasonably
convenient and accessible location in the part of the metropolitan area in which the district
is located. The committee may consolidate meetings. Following the meetings, new text begin the committee
shall publish the list of nominees in newspapers of general circulation in the metropolitan
area and the appropriate districts, and allow for a 21-day comment period to the Metropolitan
Council. Following the comment period, new text end the committee shall submit to the governor a list
of nominees for each appointment. The governor is not required to appoint from the list new text begin ,
but must provide to the nominating committee the reason, in writing, for not appointing the
nominee or nominees from the list new text end .

(d) Before making an appointment, the governor shall consult with all members of the
legislature from the council district for which the member is to be appointed.

(e) Appointments to the council are subject to the advice and consent of the senate as
provided in section 15.066.

(f) Members of the council must be appointed to reflect fairly the various demographic,
political, and other interests in the metropolitan area and the districts.

(g) Members of the council must be persons knowledgeable about urban and metropolitan
affairs.

(h) Any vacancy in the office of a council member shall immediately be filled for the
unexpired term. In filling a vacancy, the governor may forgo the requirements of paragraph
(c) if the governor has made appointments in full compliance with the requirements of this
subdivision within the preceding 12 months.

Sec. 3. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin This act is effective July 1, 2020.
new text end